Idaho Senate Passes Weak Bill to Make Animal Cruelty a Felony Only on Third Offense

The Humane Society of the United States Urges House to Pass Stronger Law to Crack Down on Cruelty

The Humane Society of the United States is urging the Idaho House of
Representatives to take a stronger stance against harming
companion animals following a 31-1-2 vote in the Idaho Senate to
make animal cruelty a felony only for three-time convicted
offenders. Idaho currently has one of the weakest animal cruelty laws in
the nation, being one of only three states where torturing an animal,
even by the most sadistic means, warrants mere
misdemeanor penalties.

No person in Idaho or in any state has ever been convicted of three cases of
malicious cruelty, so the provision is useless in a practical
sense. S.B. 1303, sponsored by Sen. Bert Brackett, R-Rogerson,
will do nothing to curb the most heinous acts of animal cruelty in the state,
such as setting fire to puppies or decapitating kittens.

“The legislation tries to provide the appearance of action, but won’t change
a thing. Citizens of Idaho want a felony penalty for extreme acts
of animal cruelty against pets,” said Lisa Kauffman, Idaho state director for
The HSUS. “The brutal act of torturing an animal should not be tolerated
in our state.”

This week, citizen lobbyists urged their
legislators to put teeth in the state’s animal cruelty law, and
to explicitly define the terms of torture so that offenders face penalties
that fit their crimes.

Last month, The HSUS released a comparison of animal protection laws across
the country. Idaho ranked
50th among states.